William A. Hallene

Our service is about to being but before we do would you join with me in a word of prayer?

I have been asked to say a few words on behalf of the family and I am honored to do that.

Family

We are here this evening to remember and honor a man who touched our lives in different ways. William Axel Hallene sr. or Bill as he liked to be called, was a loving and caring Husband, Father, Brother, and Grandfather and to many a friend. Whether you knew Bill sr. a long time or you just met him he made you feel welcomed.

He proposed to Kathy at Christmas time in 1968. The way Bill proposed was by giving Kathy a pair of gloves as a Christmas present and when she tried them on she found the ring.

Bill loved his family and took pride in his family. One time when his youngest son Bob was in choirs just before Bob was about to sing, Bill sr. jumped up pointed right at Bob and said “That’s my boy.” Bob was so embarrassed; I hear that he almost couldn’t sing. Bill was a joker as well and I was told that when Bill jr. was real young he was asked by his father Bill sr. to go down and get a package of hotdogs. So Bill Jr. goes down and finds a package of Frankfurters and brings them up. Bill sr. says “those aren’t hotdogs their frankfurters” so bill jr. goes back down and after searching franticly for “Hotdogs” he comes back up and says “we don’t have any hotdogs only frankfurters”.

Another story I was told was about a war between Bill sr. and his brother Don. I didn’t get all the specifics but it had to do with the stealing and hiding and re-stealing of the “Hallene Family sign”. You will have to ask some else for the details maybe Don will share that story. And I am told that he had a favorite nick name for his brother Michael which was “Moonface”.

Work

But Bill was also a hard worker and had so many titles and honors that I am told if I were to name them all that we would be here till midnight but I would like to list some of the things that he did.

He was the Chief of Police for the Providence and Worcester R&R. He worked there for 27 years.

He was a K-9 Police officer and would take his sons to work with him on the weekends and they would help their dad train the dogs and wash the truck.

He was involved with the Blue Knights Motorcycle group CONN 6.

The Blue Knights I am told is a Police Motorcycle Gang.

There is a story with Kathy’s cousin Gary who was from MASS 15. He had bought a new bike and they were all going down to Virginia and Bill took some vegetable oil and made it look like the bike had an oil leak. Freaked Gary out I’m told.

He was a Hazmat instructor and he would go on his own time to train firefighters in hazmat.

He was a Military Police officer and he was stationed in Korea and in San-Francisco California. While they lived in San Francisco I was told that they were so poor that they would save up their pennies so they could buy a pizza at the end of the month.

The golden gate bridge was free to cross over but to cross back it cost 25 cents and some times when they went to visit friends they often had to borrow the 25 cents to cross the bridge to go home.

He was involved with Operation Life Saver and would go to different schools and talk to the kids about safety and when his grandkids were there in the audience he would make sure and give them a special announcement and introduce his grandkids to everyone.

There are so many stories and so many things he did so many good memories.

My Encounter with Bill

But I will always remember Bill sr. making me feel like one of the family. From the first day I ever met him he made me feel welcomed and he was the one who introduced me to Roast beef grinders on a camping trip (which they took like 30 a year they loved camping). And of course I will remember him as a jokester.

A man of a thousand jokes, some good and some bad but Bill would say “It’s not the quality of the joke it’s the quantity.”

Bill sr. was Generous, Hardworking, Loving, and joker. And we will all remember something different about him, some story that brings a smile to our face or some memory. This evening let’s comfort one another. Lets share our stories and our memories and find some comfort in that fact that Bill sr. is no longer in pain that he was in.

Closing words

The family has picked out two scriptures from the Bible that they would like to have read. A close friend of the family, Trish will be coming up in a moment to read the 23rd psalm and after she is finished we will be opening up the floor to anyone who has something they would like to say about Bill sr., a story, a thought, or a joke. And after everyone who wants to come up has I will be reading the second scripture and our service will be concluded.

Trish, would you come up now.

23rd Psalm to be read by Trish

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I will read the Lord’s Prayer

Mat 6:9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Mat 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread,

Mat 6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Paradis Funeral Home

Oxford

White Building before you get to the center of town on your right across from the gazebo park.